The delivery of the first tunnel-boring machine that will be used to build the Toronto-York Spadina subway extension begins Feb. 22. In all, it will take three weeks to deliver all of the machine’s components to the launch shaft site located in the former Northwest Gate Parking Lot on the Keele campus.
Due to the size and nature of the deliveries, traffic control personnel will escort the components from the manufacturer to the launch shaft site to help ensure the safe movement of pedestrian, transit and vehicular traffic. In order to receive the machine and to prepare for the tunnel-boring operation, the current construction site located in the former Northwest Gate Parking Lot will also be expanded.
There will be traffic delays, and transit riders on the Toronto Transit Commission's #60 Steeles West bus may also experience delays. Motorists and transit riders should plan for delays and allow extra time to reach their destination.
The tunnel-boring machines are scheduled to begin tunnel excavation in the spring of 2011 as part of the extension of the Toronto-York Spadina Subway project.
Earlier this year, York history Professor Thomas Cohen received official notification that he had won a contest sponsored by the Toronto Transit Commission to name two of the tunnel-boring machines Holey and Moley (see YFile, Feb. 1). City of Vaughan resident Rose Rinella’s submission of Yorkie and Torkie snagged the other win. It is not known if the machine being delivered to the launch site is Holey, Moley, Yorkie or Torkie.